“And this cup of yours tastes holy. But a brush with the Devil can clear your mind And strengthen your spine.”  ~ Mumford & Sons

“When you light a candle, you also cast a shadow.”  ~ Ursula K. Le Guin

“Anger makes you smaller, while forgiveness forces you to grow beyond what you are.” ~ Cherie Carter Scott

This is #38 of 108 Ways to Livin the Moment. Let’s take back our lives one beautiful, funny and delicious moment at a time.

#38 of 108: Dance with the Devil

This past Sunday, someone told me a “surprising” story.

He was a spectator at a triathalon in which Lance Armstrong was participating.

A short time after Armstrong entered the water for the swim portion of the event, three women waded in and filled jars with the water through which Armstrong just swam.

These women obviously consider Armstrong to be a miracle survivor, with some power over cancer.

It’s not just these women.

Several years ago, my friend had brain cancer with less than a 50 percent chance to live.

To my friend’s family, Lance Armstrong was an inspiration during a tough time.

If there is even one cancer patient who found the will to live because of Armstrong’s story, where does that leave us?

Does all the good performed by Armstrong’s Livestrong charity outweigh his possible wrongdoing?

Is the world a better or worse place because of Lance Armstrong?

***

Every life is a dance between the forces of good and evil, lust and loyalty, light and dark.

We are fascinated with Lance Armstrong because he embodies all of these forces at full volume.

Lance Armstrong is health. He is sickness. He is triumph. He is defeat. He is a hero. He is a cheater. He is everything at once.

In his constant dance between dark and light, Lance Armstrong is always moving his powerful legs.

You might not take performance enhancing drugs, but you are human, and rest assured, you too will make mistakes, maybe even egregious ones.

And there will be a day when you will need to be reminded…keep moving your legs.

Keep dancing.

Keep going…

…and you too will find your way back to the light.

~

Editor: Kate Bartolotta

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